Partners & Local Champions
Representation alone doesn’t change systems. Normality does.
EmpowerEd Novels exists for young people who are rarely allowed to be ordinary in stories — especially those from disadvantaged, minority, and disabled backgrounds. We create personalised graphic novels that quietly restore presence, confidence, and belonging, while integrating science learning and real-world relevance.
This is not a campaign or a one-off intervention. It is cultural infrastructure — built carefully, ethically, and with physical artefacts that last.
Pilot Fundraising — How to Stand With Us
We are raising £12,500 to run our first fully documented pilot in 2026 — supporting 50 students, placing books into schools and libraries, hosting community readings, and generating evidence for responsible national scaling.
We welcome an initial conversation — not a commitment — to explore whether this aligns with your values, place, or organisation.
Local champions include teachers, librarians, coaches, business owners, and community figures —
not only high-profile names. A local champion may read once at a library, attend a launch, or simply stand, or tweet, visibly alongside the project.
Sponsors fund production and access. Local champions help stories travel — by reading, attending, and standing visibly alongside the project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is EmpowerEd Novels?
▼EmpowerEd Novels is a literacy-led science education intervention using personalised graphic novels to rebuild reading identity, confidence, and relevance for students who often disengage early. Each child receives a printed book, with additional copies placed into their school library, local library, and a partner school — creating a measurable ripple of belonging.
What is the goal of the pilot?
▼The pilot exists to test whether this approach can be rolled out responsibly, measurably, and at scale. We are collecting evidence through pupil voice, teacher observation, and library engagement — ensuring that learning, dignity, and impact remain central as the project grows.
How is the project governed?
▼The pilot is delivered by METAMORPHORCES, a UK-registered social-impact innovation studio. All funds are ring-fenced to the project with clear cost lines for printing, delivery, and coordination. METAMORPHORCES LTD is registered in England and Wales (Company No. 16516715).
Who leads the project?
▼The project is led by John O’Hare — a Fulbright Teaching Scholar, Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, and Chartered Teacher with experience across classrooms, research, and technology innovation. He holds an MPhil with Distinction and a PGCE from Cambridge University and previously was Head of Innovations at Nokia. He wrote the best selling book, 'A sketchy knowledge of AI' which reached #5 in the Amazon charts over Christmas 2023.
How can my organisation or I get involved?
▼We are seeking up to three principal sponsors for the pilot, alongside local champions who can support community readings and visibility. Sponsors are acknowledged with dignity inside the books and on the website — not as advertisers, but as supporters of access, literacy, and belonging.
Imagine a Paralympian, business leader, or educator reading a book in a local library — not as a celebrity moment, but as a signal of who belongs.
To talk, contact John O’Hare.